The School Essentials Grant 2025-2026 is available to children and young people eligible for free school meals (eFSM) who will be in year groups Reception to Year 11 in September 2025. It is also available for all children looked after by the local authority.

You are eligible if your child is currently in receipt of free school meals, but it does not extend to pupils who receive free school meals under the transitional protection or universal primary free school meal scheme.

Funding of £125 is available for each eligible learner with the exception of those going in to Year 7 who will be entitled to £200 (to reflect the increased cost of starting secondary school).

You can use the grant to pay for:

• school uniforms and footwear
• sports equipment and kit
• school activities, including musical lessons, school trips and after school clubs
• classroom essentials, including pens, pencils and school bags
• laptop or tablet if you cannot loan it from the school.

The scheme for the 2025-26 academic year will begin on 1st July 2025 and end on 31st May 2026.

No payments will be made until after 1st July 2025, and/or until the school has completed eligibility checks. Only one claim per child, per academic year can be made even if the child moves schools.

Parents/Carers will be able to apply for the School Essentials Grant 2025-2026 via this link once BCBC have updated the page with the 2025-2026 information and form:

www.bridgend.gov.uk/residents/schools-and-education/grants-for-school-pupils/school-essentials-grant

Paper copies of the form are available from the school office by request or can be downloaded below.

For pupils going into Year 7 in September, the form should be sent to the Comprehensive School that they will be going to. All other forms should be returned to the school office. Forms completed online will be automatically emailed to us.

If you have any queries about the School Essentials Grant please don’t hesitate to contact the school office and Mrs McCall will be happy to advise you.